Petrophysical Evaluation of Lam Member Reservoir, Madbi Formation (Late Jurassic), using Well Log and Core Data in Habban Field, Sab'atayn Basin, Yemen
Keywords:
Petrophysics, Reservoir properties, Lam Member, Habban Field, Sabatayn BasinAbstract
The present work aims to quantify the Lam lithological and reservoir petrophysical characteristics of the Late Jurassic in the Habban oil field, Marib Shabwah Basin, Yemen, from the wireline logs and core data. The results revealed that the Lam Member rocks consist of an interbedded sequence of claystone, intercalated limestone, dolomite claystone, and sandstone. Lam Member lithology consists of clayey and strongly carbonate-cemented, very fine to coarse-grained Sandstone, divided into three main layers with possible reservoir units in the upper and lower sections. The Lam Member rocks are encountered with a relatively thick thickness reaching up to 5008 m and have reasonable porosity (11-25%), shale content (15-25 %), and high hydrocarbon saturation in the Habban oil field up to (70%) with maximum pay thicknesses reaching 40 m. A scatter plot of petrophysical gamma ray values versus core gamma ray values gave an approximate linear relationship. Also, Cross-plots of porosity-density values versus core values revealed a linear relationship between the two datasets. Poor-sorting, pore-filling with clay, and carbonate cementation are the main causes of poor reservoir quality. The Lam reservoir is a tight or unconventional that will rely on Perforating, natural fracturing, and/or fracture stimulation to produce oil.
References
Abilkhasimov, K. B., Jangirov, A. N., Al-Dujaili, A. N., Nunoo, S., & Tileuberdi, N. (2025). Sedimentation Stages of the Temir Carbonate Platform Formation in the Caspian Sedimentary Basin during the Late Paleozoic. ES Energy and Environment, 29, 1706. http://dx.doi.org/10.30919/ee1706
Abudeif, A. M., Radwan, A. E., Al-Azazi, N. A., Mohammed, M. A., & Basrada, F. M., (2024). Petrophysical Parameters and Reservoir Evaluation from Well Log Analysis of Lam Member (Late Jurassic), Habban Oil Field, Marib-Shabwah (Sab'atayn) Basin, Yemen. Sohag Journal of Sciences, 9(1), 86-93. https://doi.org/10.21608/sjsci.2023.224819.1101
Adams, S., (2011). Habban Lam Petrophysical Update internal report for OMV Yemen Block S2. Well, Eval.com Pte. Ltd.WCL110906. Singapore.
Ahlbrandt, T.S., (2002). Madbi Amran/Qishn Total Petroleum System of the Marib–Al Jawf/Shabwah, and Masila-Jeza Basins, Yemen. United States Geological Survey Bulletin, 2202-G, 28 p.
Al-Areeq. Nabil, M. and, Albaroot. Mohammed. A., (2019). Source rocks evaluation and thermal maturity evolution of the Dhamar Ali field, Sab’atayn basin, Yemen, Asian Journal of Science and Technology, 10(01), 9364-9374.
Al-Areeq. Nabil. M., & Albaroot. Mohammed. A., (2018). Petroleum source rocks characterization and hydrocarbon generation of the Upper Jurassic succession in Jabal Ayban field, Sabatayn Basin, Yemen. Egyptian Journal of Petroleum, 27(4), 835-851. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpe.2017.12.005
Albaroot, M., Elhossainy, M. M., Al-Areeq, N. M., Abdullah, E. A., & Salman, A. M., (2024). The Upper Jurassic sediments, Marib-Shabwa Basin, Yemen: lithofacies aspects and sequence stratigraphic analysis. Energy Geoscience, 5(1), 100214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engeos.2023.100214
Albaroot. M, Ahmad. A. H. M, Al-Areeq. Nabil, Sultan. M., (2016). Tectonostratigraphic of Yemen and Geological Evolution: A New Prospective. International Journal of New Technology and Research (IJNTR) ISSN:2454-4116, Volume-2, Issue-2, Pages 19-33.
Al-Dujaili, A. N., (2023). Reservoir rock typing and storage capacity of Mishrif Carbonate Formation in West Qurna/1 Oil Field, Iraq. Carbonates and Evaporites, 38(4). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13146-023-00908-3
Al-Dujaili, A. N., (2024). Reservoir and rock characterization for Mishrif Formation/ Zubair Field (Rafdiya and Safwan Domes) by nuclear magnetic resonance and cores analysis. Iraqi Journal of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, 25(3), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.31699/ijcpe.2024.3.1
Al-Matary, A. M., (2007). Geo-history, Microfacies and Petroleum Assessment of the Central Part of the Sab’atayn Basin, Yemen. PhD thesis. Yarmouk University of Jordan, Jordan.
Al-Matary. A. M, Hakimi. M. H, Al Sofi. S, Al-Nehmi. Y. A, Al-haj. M. A, Al-Hamdani. A, Al-Sarhi. A., (2018). Preliminary source rock evaluation and hydrocarbon generation potential of the early Cretaceous subsurface shale from Shabwah subbasin in the Sabatayn Basin, Western Yemen. Journal of African Earth Science, 142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2018.02.009
Al-Matary. A. M., (2003). Petrography and Hydrocarbon Potentiality Studies of the Middle-Upper Jurassic Amran Sediments (Amran Group) in Sab’atayn Basin, Yemen. M.Sc. thesis. Yarmouk University, Jordan.
Al-Wosabi, M., Saeed O. Wasel, (2011) Lithostratigraphic subdivision of the Kuhlan Formation in Yemen, Arabian Journal of Geosciences. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-010-0236-9
As-Saruri, M. A., R. Sorkhabi, and R. Baraba., (2010). Sedimentary basins of Yemen: Their tectonic development and lithostratigraphic cover. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 3(4):515–27. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-010-0189-z
Bawazer, W., Lashin, A., & Kinawy, M. M. (2018). Characterization of a fractured basement reservoir using high-resolution 3D seismic and logging datasets: A case study of the Sab’atayn Basin, Yemen. PLoS One, 13(10), e0206079. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0206079
Beydoun, Z.R., (1991). Arabian Plate Hydrocarbon Geology and Potential - A Plate Tectonic Approach. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Studies in Geology No. 33, 77 p. https://doi.org/10.1306/St33533
Beydoun, Z.R., As-Saruri, M.A.L., El-Nakhal, H., Al-Ganad, I.N., Baraba, R.S., Nani, A.S.O. and Al-Aawah, M.H., (1998). International lexicon of stratigraphy, Volume III, Republic of Yemen, 2nd ed.: International Union of Geological Sciences and Ministry of Oil and Mineral Resources, Republic of Yemen Publication 34, 245 p.
Beydoun, Z.R., As-Saruri, M.L. and Baraba’, R.S., (1996). Sedimentary basins of the Republic of Yemen: Their structural evolution and Geological characteristics. Revue de l' Institute Francia’s du Petrol, 51: 763-775. https://doi.org/10.2516/ogst:1996049
Bosence, D.W.J., (1997). Mesozoic rift basins of Yemen. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 14: 611-616. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0264-8172(97)00039-1
Brannin. J, Sahota. Gurdip, Gerdes. KD, Berry. JAL., (1999). Geological evolution of the central Marib-Shabwah basin, Yemen. Geo Arabia; 4:9–34. https://doi.org/10.2113/geoarabia040109
Casto, I., A. Habib, K. Kiss, I. Kocz, Z. Kovacs, K. Lorincz, and K. Milota, (2001). Play concepts of oil exploration in Yemen: Oil and Gas Journal, 99, 68–74.
Edgell, H. S. (2006). Arabian deserts: nature, origin, and evolution. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-3970-0
El-Ata, A. S. A., EI-Khafeef, A. A., Ghoneimi, A. E., Abd Alnabi, S. H., & Al-Badani, M. A., (2013). Applications of aeromagnetic data to detect the Basement Tectonics of Eastern Yemen region. Egyptian Journal of Petroleum, 22(2), 277-292. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpe.2013.06.007
Elhossainy, M. M., Albaroot, M., Al-Areeq, N. M., & Salman, A. M., (2022). Late Jurassic Safir evaporite salts, Sab'atayn Basin, Yemen: Lithofacies distribution, cyclicity, and mineralogy. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 195, 104641.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2022.104641
Ellis, A.C., Kerr, H.M., Cornwell, C.P., Williams, D.O., (1996). A tectonostratigraphic framework for Yemen and its implications for hydrocarbon potential. Petroleum Geoscience, no. 2, p. 29-42. https://doi.org/10.1144/petgeo.2.1.29
Ghiglione, G., & Abbasi, I., (2012, November). Tectonic discontinuities analysis using seismic and well datasets in a fractured basement reservoir. In Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (pp. SPE-162399). SPE. https://doi.org/10.2118/162399-MS
Hadden, R. L., (2012). The geology of Yemen: An annotated bibliography of Yemen's geology, geography and earth science.
Hakimi, M. H., Al-Matary. A. M. and, Salad Hersi. O., (2018) ‘Late Jurassic bituminous shale from Marib oilfields in the Sabatayn Basin (NW Yemen). Geochemical and petrological analyses reveal oil-shale resources. The science and technology of Fuel and Energy, Fuel, 232 530–542. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2018.05.138
Hakimi, M. H., Varfolomeev, M., Qadri, S. M. T., Lashin, A., Yelwa, N. A., Radwan, A., & Saeed, S., (2022). Overview of the Late Jurassic Madbi-Sab'atayn petroleum system in the Marib Concession, northwestern Sab'atayn Basin (Yemen): hydrocarbon from source to trapping. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 15(3), 319. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-022-09576-4
Hatem, B. A., Abdullah, W. H., Hakimi, M. H., & Mustapha, K. A., (2016). Origin of organic matter and paleoenvironment conditions of the Late Jurassic organic-rich shales from Shabwah sub-basin (western Yemen): Constraints from petrology and biological markers. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 72, 83-97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2016.01.013
Khashman, M. A., Shirazi, H., Al-Dujaili, A. N., & Sulaiman, N. M., (2025). Maximizing oil recovery and economic returns through strategic well spacing in the Mishrif Formation, Southern Iraq. Modeling Earth Systems and Environment, 11(6). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40808-025-02609-3
Mabon, S., & Mason, R., (2022). Gulf States and the Horn of Africa: Interests, influences and instability. https://doi.org/10.7765/9781526162175
Oktaviany, A. P., DN, A. A. P., Farahdibah, U., Maharsi, D. A., Astuti, W., & Gibrata, M. A. (2022). Digital Core Analysis of Capillary Pressure in Sandstone. Scientific Contributions Oil and Gas, 45(3), 183-191. https://doi.org/10.29017/SCOG.45.3.1260
Ragil, D., Muthofa, M. A., Wahyudi, W., Mutakim, M. A., Oktiviannysa, E., Aji, N. T., & Prakoso, Y. H. (2024). Perancangan Alat Desorpsi Gas pada Sampel Batuan Serpih Guna Pengukuran Volume Gas pada Skala Laboratorium. LEMBARAN PUBLIKASI MINYAK DAN GAS BUMI (LPMGB), 58(2), 103-113. https://doi.org/10.29017/LPMGB.58.2.1647
Redfern, P., Jones, J.A., (1995). The interior rift of The Yemen-analysis of basin structure and stratigraphy in a regional plate tectonic context. Basin Research, No. 7, 337-356. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2117.1995.tb00121.x
Ronlei, B. C., Wibowo, A. S., Sigalingging, A. S., Nathania, E. Y., Fatkhan, F., Erdi, A., ... & Husein, A. A. A. (2025). Reservoir Characterization of Ngrayong Formation, Sandstone with Carbonate Intercalation, Using a Geostatistical Approach Based on Petrophysical Parameters, Northeast Java Basin, Indonesia. Scientific Contributions Oil and Gas, 48(3), 237-251. https://doi.org/10.29017/scog.v48i3.1828
Sachsenhofer, R. F., Bechtel, A., Dellmour, R. W., Mobarakabad, A. F., Gratzer, R., & Salman, A., (2012). Upper Jurassic source rocks in the Sab’atayn Basin, Yemen: Depositional environment, source potential and hydrocarbon generation. GeoArabia, 17(4), 161-186. https://doi.org/10.2113/geoarabia1704161
Seaborne, T. R., (1996). The influence of the Sabatayn Evaporites on the hydrocarbon prospectivity of the Eastern Shabwa Basin, Onshore Yemen. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 13(8), 963-972. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0264-8172(96)00017-7
Sellar. C, Zabalza. I, and, Miguel. K., (2014). Less is More: An Objective/Cost-Driven Approach to Reducing Uncertainty in the Appraisal of the Lam Reservoir, Central Yemen. Society of Petroleum Engineers. Paper presented at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference, Abu Dhabi, UAE. Paper Number: SPE-171875-MS. https://doi.org/10.2118/171875-MS
Stephenson, M. H., & Kader Al-Mashaikie, S. A. Z. A., (2011). Stratigraphic note: update on the palynology of the Akbarah and Kuhlan formations, northwest Yemen. GeoArabia, 16(4), 17-24. https://doi.org/10.2113/geoarabia160417
Uzbekgaliev, R., Al-Dujaili, A. N., Tileuberdi, N., Auelkhan, E., Togizov, K., Amralinova, B., Akbarov, E., & Sanatbekov, M., (2025). Lithological Types of Deposit - a new strategy for exploration works for oil and gas in southern Mangushlak, Kazakhstan. ES Energy & Environments, 29, 1681. https://doi.org/10.30919/ee1681
Wardhana, R., Yasutra, A., Irawan, D., & Haidar, M. W. (2022). A Case Study of Primary and Secondary Porosity Effect for Permeability Value in Carbonate Reservoir using Differential Effective Medium and Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System Method. Scientific Contributions Oil and Gas, 45(1), 13-22. https://doi.org/10.29017/SCOG.45.1.923
Watchorn, F., Nichols, G. J., & Bosence, D. W. J., (1998). Rift-related sedimentation and stratigraphy, southern Yemen (Gulf of Aden). In Sedimentation and Tectonics in Rift Basins Red Sea:-Gulf of Aden (pp. 165-189). Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4930-3_11
Worden, R. H., (2006). Dawsonite cement in the Triassic Lam Formation, Shabwa Basin, Yemen: A natural analogue for a potential mineral product of subsurface CO2 storage for greenhouse gas reduction. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 23(1), 61-77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2005.07.001
Ziegler, M.A., (2001). Late Permian to Holocene Paleo facies Evolution of the Arabian Plate and Its Hydrocarbon Occurrences. GeoArabia, 6, 445-504. https://doi.org/10.2113/geoarabia0603445
Published
Issue
Section
License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors are free to Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format for any purpose, even commercially Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms, under the following terms Attribution — You must give appropriate credit , provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made . You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.









